This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack
This opening arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3. It is a well-known line in the French Defense where White advances the e-pawn early to gain space and restrict Black's central pawn breaks.
Characteristic of 5. Nf3: This move develops a knight to a natural square, supports the center, and prepares for kingside castling. It also helps White maintain a strong pawn chain on d4 and e5, while keeping flexible options for further development.
Attacking or Defensive: White’s setup is generally considered attacking in nature, aiming to control space and cramp Black’s position. Black plays more counterattacking moves, often targeting White’s center with c5 and sometimes f6 breaks.
Center Control: Yes, this opening strongly contests the center. White builds a solid pawn chain with pawns on d4 and e5, while Black challenges it directly with c5 and seeks counterplay against White’s center.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 59 - Move #7 black
You can also discover how top players used French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.